Denny Ray & Vic

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Denny Ray, owner of Pond Wiser Inc, a lake and pond management company that offers goose control too. With me is Vic, a 2-year-old male Border Collie.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Vic and I have coffee together every weekday — and sometimes on weekends too — as we are heading to area ponds for goose control.

What's brewing?

World Market Sumatra — hot and black!

Any treats for you or Vic on this occasion?

After our goose chases, Vic is given a small "good-boy treat." He can't have many treats, b/c he must stay in marathon condition to perform his best for the job.

How were you and Vic united?

My wife and I researched goose control and decided it was a perfect fit for our company to begin offering this type of service using a specially-trained Border Collie. Through our research we came across two well-known trainers in our part of the country and after speaking with both of them, we chose to go to Big Bend Farm in Millboro, VA to see their trained dogs and at that visit decided Vic was the one for us.

How did Vic get his name? Any nicknames?

Vic was his name when we went to look at him. (He was almost 2 by then), so we never considered changing it.

Sometimes when we are talking to him, we call him Victor.

How long have you and Vic been in the goose management business?

We are completing our first season. Vic has been with us for almost a year.

How stubborn are most geese that Vic encounters? That is, once he discourages geese from hanging around pond, do they come back?

The service we offer is goose "control," not goose elimination. It is highly effective and depending on the severity of the problem, is the determining factor of their return. The goal is to not allow nesting.

Does Vic have a favorite place to go for an outing?

If there are geese, he's ready for the command.

What is Vic's best quality?

Vic is extremely intelligent and learns quickly.

If Vic could change one thing about you, what would it be?

Not sure about this one. Vic wants to please so he doesn't try to change us, he just tries to understand what we are wanting him to do.

If Vic could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

Why does he seem scared of things like shovels, rakes, etc? We often wonder if before he was sent to Big Bend Farm if he had been hit by someone.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Vic could speak, who should voice him?

He's a very level-headed, intelligent dog, so I think Dr. Phil.

Visit the Pond Wiser Inc website and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Juliana Willems & Otis

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Juliana Willems. I work marketing and events at my local humane society, I foster mostly "pit bull" dogs and I document it all in my blog Peace, Love & Fostering. The dog with me in the photo is one of my former foster dogs Otis, a two year old mutt (American bull dog? boxer? pointer? pit bull dog?), who is currently staying with me while his forever dad is out of town.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Otis is a big baby and since he doesn't like doing anything without me I bring him along even for my morning coffee.

What's brewing?

Anything from Starbucks. Probably something seasonal - so right now a skim, no whip gingerbread latte.

Otis doesn't need coffee because he becomes instantly caffeinated whenever I return from being gone for more than 30 seconds.

Any treats for you or Otis on this occasion?

I try not to feed him in public so that his drool doesn't take over his entire being.

How did you and Otis first meet?

He was adopted by a friend of mine and it wasn't working out. I offered to dog-sit him when they went away for a weekend and, as you can probably guess, he never went back. I fostered him two separate times (one other adoption didn't work out, poor pup) until he found his perfect forever home. It was worth the wait, because he and his dad are the most perfect pair.

Would you share a bit of insight about your work with foster dogs?

In the past year I've had a handful of both long term and temporary fosters, including dogs from the rescue group I work with, Jasmine's House. Because I work at the county shelter I see how valuable fostering is to open up cage space for the homeless animals that pour in through our doors every day. My foster dogs have all picked me for one reason or another, and even though they've all been adopted, a part of each of them will stay with me forever.

How did Otis get his name? Any nicknames?

Otis came with his name. I absolutely hated it at first, but now I think it totally fits him. His full name when he was looking for a home was Honey Bunches of Otis, and some current nicknames include Oats, Otie, Otie-potie, and dumbo.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

None of the above. To quote Otie's owner: "Otis almost chased a squirrel today. When it ran in front of him he walked a little faster for a few strides."

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Again, none of the above. Your best bet is to take any of those things and cover them with peanut butter before presenting it to him.

Does Otis have a favorite place to go for walk?

Anywhere his human goes - otherwise, he prefers the couch.

Who is Otis's best pet-pal?

He shares a yard with a really cute female mutt-something. They flirt all the time, but they're still in the awkward "I'm pretending I don't really like you" phase. He also has a great BFF relationship with a cocker spaniel who is about 1/3 his size.

What is Otis's best quality?

He makes you feel like you're the coolest person in the world!

And he doesn't destroy the house when I leave (a quality you learn to seriously appreciate when you're continuously getting foster dogs who aren't used to living in a home).

If Otis could change one thing about you, what would it be?

He would probably try to make it so that I never went anywhere without him.

If Otis could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

Do you really think whining makes things all better?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Otis could speak, who should voice him?

Oh, definitely whatever actor played Napoleon Dynamite.

Visit the Peace, Love & Fostering blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Peter Rork & Doyle

Who is in the photo at right?

This is Doyle with me, Peter Rork, riding a sup board on Flathead Lake in Montana.

We are taking a day off from our Dog Is My CoPilot animal rescue flight schedule. DIMC is a nonprofit organization that flies abandoned cats and dogs from kill shelters to parts of the country where they are highly adoptable.

I fly the rescue missions and Doyle, a black lab, is my copilot. Find us at Dog Is My CoPilot. 

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We are in the pre-flight planning room at the airport drinking coffee before going "wheels up" on a rescue flight. We start early in the morning as our missions usually involve seven to eight hours in the air.

What's brewing?

Black coffee, as strong as jet fuel.

Any treats for you or Doyle on this occasion?

We fly with Doyle’s favorite treat on board: dried mango.

How were you and Doyle united?

Doyle is a trained bird dog who could no longer keep up with the younger dogs, so he was thrown away at age seven. I overheard people talking about him and stepped up to make him my best friend. My lucky day!

How did he get his name? Any aliases?

Doyle was named for one of my favorite authors...Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Please tell us about DIMC.

Dog Is My CoPilot is dedicated to saving animals' lives by providing air transportation to abandoned cats and dogs. DIMC decreases the number of animals killed in shelters and increases shelter adoption by flying animals to areas where they are more adoptable.

DIMC works with established nonprofit animal rescue organizations (AROs) to coordinate flights. AROs pull animals from kill shelters (odd phrase, don't you think?) and move them to safety in humane rescues, breed specific rescues, and foster/furever homes. When the distance the animals need to travel is too great for over-the-road transport, DIMC swoops in to fly them.

Our typical mission is more than 600 nautical miles. There is never a fee to the sending or receiving ARO.

You can learn more about DIMC at our website and like us on Facebook.

Does Doyle have a favorite place to go for an outing?

Doyle's happy place is Polson, Montana on Flathead Lake. We share a house on the water.

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

"Red rope" is his current favorite.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Doyle does not chase. The "knock on the door" sound on the television gets him going though.

If Doyle could change one thing about you, what would it be?

Doyle would be happy if I would give him 95% of the bed.

Who is Doyle's best pet-pal?

Doyle’s best pals are the hundreds of fortunate and grateful cats and dogs who are on board the plane as we fly them to homes. Doyle tells them that they are safe and will soon be in loving families.

If Doyle could speak in the movie about your life, who should do his voice?

Tim Allen.

If Doyle could answer just one question in English, what would you ask him?

When is the water too cold for a swim?

Learn more about Dog Is My CoPilot at the DIMC website and like the DIMC Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Ceiridwen Terrill & Argos

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Ceiridwen Terrill. I’m a writer and professor at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. My dog’s name is Argos. He’ll be thirteen this year. A few years back I tested his DNA to find out what breeds went into his mix. The results came back totally inconclusive. He’s so mixed that not even a geneticist could figure him out. Based on appearances and the thickness of his coat, I’d say Argos is a mix of shepherd and husky and a few other tidbits. I call him my 100% pure American street dog.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Argos and I always get coffee on the way to teach my university classes.

What's brewing?

We stop at Anna Bannanas in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, Oregon and order a Doot-da-doo, a mix of espresso and chai. You ask for it by saying "Doot da doo me."

Any treats for you or Argos on this occasion?

Argos and I get a breakfast sandwich to share. We love the organic sausage with scrambled egg on a basil pesto bagel. (Argos likes the sausage best.)

How did Argos get his name? Any aliases?

Argos is named for Odysseus’ faithful dog in Homer’s Odyssey. After being away for twenty years, Odysseus returned to his home in Ithaca, but the only one to recognize him was his very old dog Argos. My Argos is an incredibly loyal companion who has accompanied me on many wilderness adventures.

How were you and Argos united?

I found Argos in the pound in Reno, Nevada. He was a few months old and very sick. He’d been living on the streets with his mother and brother. He’d obviously been kicked around because he was nervous about having his head and ears touched, and he was clearly starving out there. When I saw him in that wire kennel, wheezing and sniffling, I squatted down for a closer look at him, and he pushed one of his paws under the gate to touch me. That was it. He was going home with me.

Who are Argos's best pet-pals?

Rooben, a dachshund, is one of his best pals. They sleep on the same giant bed. William and Donald are his other best four-legged pals. William is a thoroughbred ex-show jumper and Donald is a St. Croix hair sheep. Twice a day, morning and evening, Argos walks to the nearby pasture with me to feed and visit them. Sometimes Argos has to watch out because Donald gets playful and tries to head butt him. But mostly Donald just bounces around the pasture when he’s happy and Argos chases him and barks.

Please tell us about your new book.

My new book Part Wild is about my experience raising a wolfdog named Inyo alongside two rescue dogs, Argos and Thelma. The book is framed by my personal story and explores the similarities and differences between wolves and dogs.

Does Argos ever go to school with you?

Argos loves to go to school with me. He goes into the classroom or hangs out in my office while I teach. Students love him.

Elk, deer, beaver, and coyote live near your home. What's the wildest encounter Argos has had with these animals?

The day of my wedding, Argos disappeared into Forest Park, the 5,000-acre urban wilderness surrounding my home. With the wedding cake safely stowed in the fridge, our deck scrubbed and chairs set out, the ceremony was just hours away. I’d led Argos outside to pee when he suddenly picked up a scent and dashed into the trees. Nothing like that had ever happened before—or since. I called and called, bushwhacking a four-mile loop through tangles of sword fern and vine maple--no sign of him. At dusk, sobbing and hardly able to put two words together, I was ready to call off the wedding. Then Argos trotted happily out of the woods, a squirrel in his mouth. My old pal, ordinarily perfect on recall, impervious to distractions, had gone stone deaf in the heat of the chase. I felt terrible for the squirrel, but I was incredibly relieved to see Argos. I was reminded of how much I rely on his steady presence.

If Argos could change one thing about Portlanders, what would it be?

Argos appreciates how much Portlanders love their dogs, but he wishes they were better about picking up their dog poop, particularly in our urban wilderness of Forest Park. Sometimes, people bag the poop and forget it along the trail. Or they sometimes leave their dog’s business on the open trail for others to step in. Or perhaps worst of all, they kick it off into the brush—poor etiquette and dangerous for wildlife. Argos would really like to tell Portlanders that a dime-size amount of dog poop has about 23 million fecal coliform bacteria that when left in the woods end up in our waterways and cause serious illness in aquatic and other wildlife.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Argos could speak, which actor should do his voice?

Ben Stiller without a doubt. Argos is so much like Stiller’s character, the male nurse Greg Focker, in Meet the Parents. He wants to please so badly and gain approval, but no matter what he does he messes up.

If Argos could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

Did growing up with a wolfdog turn you into a nervous wreck?

Visit Ceiridwen Terrill's website and read more about Part Wild: One Woman's Journey with a Creature Caught Between the Worlds of Wolves and Dogs.

--Marshal Zeringue

Serra Battaloglu & Alex and Zino

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Serra Battaloglu, a 19-year-old university student from Istanbul,Turkey who is training to be a yoga teacher. The dog in the photo is one of my dogs, Alex. He is a 6-year-old male Alsatian. Even though he probably weighs more than 120 lbs, he usually considers himself to be a small petite lapdog.

I also have a another Alsatian who is 5 years old, called Zino.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

A Sunday morning walk at seaside watching the ferries and sailboats.

What's brewing?

Well, I usually prefer the good old Turkish tea to any kind of coffee.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Of course! There is a small teahouse that has all these good pastries. I usually get myself some pastry from there and as soon as the dogs see the tray, they start drooling all over the place. So I usually give in and share my treats with them.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Unfortunately we didn't get to name any of them. They had already been named when we got them.

Alex [photo left] has another official name which is Vemito von der Urbecke since he was bred in a kennel in Germany. After all those years I still wonder why someone would give such a long name to a dog!

How were you and your dogs united?

When our older dog, Pasa, who was a tough rottweiler passed away, our family was left with sorrow. We had another dog who was also an Alsatian called Duman and he was also very old so we knew he wouldn't be around for long.

Personally, I felt like I had too much love in me for animals and I didn't want that love to be spent in vain. I wanted a dog that I could share this love with and eventually I got what I wanted. Actually I have to admit that since I have grown up with dogs, I don't know have a clue on how to live without dogs.

As horrible as that sounds, Alex was adopted by one of our neighbors who had very little love for dogs. Well, they had love for only puppies but not for massive dogs like Alex. As soon as they saw that the cute little puppy was growing into a massive dog, they wanted to give him up. And we were there to take Alex into our life.

Zino [photo right, with Serra's father] is a complete different story. We got Zino from a kennel in Istanbul. Before we got him, we visited his kennel as a family and I remember seeing Zino running all over the kennel and I remember hoping that this wild dog is not the one that we would be bringing home and eventually it turned out he was!

Rabbit, postman,cat....?

For Zino, definitely cats. Just the sight of a cat throws Zino's obedience training into a dustbin.

Alex couldn't care less about these three. I sometimes get the feeling that he actually likes cats! He just has a kind nature.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick....?

For Zino, I would have to say pine cones. Our house is surrounded by huge pine trees and it's not uncommon to have your head hit with the occasional pine cone while walking in the garden.

If Zino finds a cone, he will bring it to you and wait for you to throw it. And when you throw it, he will run after it like it's the Snitch from the Quidditch game. The sad part is, for me the game gets pretty boring after some point and I hate to be the one to end the game and see his disappointed face.

For Alex [photo left], tennis balls are his favorite. The yellower the better. I actually think that there is a love and hate relationship between the balls and Alex. He likes to play with them but he also likes to destroy them by eating them which is usually incredibly gross to clean after.

Which is each dog's best quality?

Alex is the world's most obedient dog as well as being a great hugger and a great kisser. He is an affectionate dog. I think his best quality is his ability to bond with humans, maybe from my selfish perspective, his ability to bond with me. He is the kind of dog that if he sees your lap empty while sitting, he will come and put his head on your lap so that you can feel his affection. I like to think of him as a dog who gives love to people. Also if he sees you crying, he will rub his body against your legs to let you know that he is there for you. I often say that if he were a human being, I would marry him.

Zino is another case. He has his affectionate moments but overall he has too much energy to be a good hugger. He is the kind of dog that can't stand still. He is so energetic. Actually calling him energetic is underestimating his level of energy. He is more like a hyperactive dog. Zino is also the joke of the family. We have lots of jokes based on his ever-cheerful character and his readiness to play games. Spending time with him is almost always fun. I always enjoy his company.

If your dogs could change one thing about the people of Istanbul, what would it be?

For some unknown reason, people of Istanbul usually think that Alex [in the distance] is a female. Actually what is worse is that they usually think he is Zino's [forward] mother. I am sure Alex would like to change that misconception for good.

Also they would both want to change the fact that there used to be a TV series about an Alsatian who was named Pulsar. While on their daily walks, it is not uncommon to have people point their fingers at them and say 'Are they Pulsar?' Sometimes getting celebrity attention like that can be intimidating.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, which actors should do their voices?

Jim Carrey for Zino and Jake Gyllenhaal or James Franco for Alex.

If your dogs could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

Zino will you ever calm down?

Alex sometimes you can't get the angle right and you pee on yourself, do you realize that?

--Marshal Zeringue

Weston Ochse & Goblin, Ghost, and Ghoulie

Who are in the photos accompanying this Q & A?

I’m Weston Ochse, owned by three Great Danes. They’re all rescues. Goblin, the big old merle, came from San Bernardino. Ghost, who is deaf and was set on fire, came from Phoenix, and Ghoulie, who is blind as three bats, came from Charlotte, N.C.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We live in the desert. We are always thirsty.

What's brewing?

Goblin and me, we like ice coffee with very little cream or sugar. Ghost likes hot coffee with enough cream it’s the color of tan. And Ghoulie prefers Green Tea, although I seriously doubt she needs the caffeine.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

No. We’re all watching our weight during the holidays.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Both my wife and I are dark fiction authors. Once we had Goblin, the other names just fell into place. Their full names, for the record, are Goblin Monster Dog, Pester Ghost Palm Eater and Mad Dog Ghoulie Sonar Brain.

How were you and your dogs united?

Through Petfinder, which is an online search engine, much like eBay, but with animals who need to be rescued. Note that rescuing an animal is a lifetime commitment, and not at all buy and forget. We were vetted each time, interviewed, and our homes checked for suitability. We almost didn’t get Ghoulie. The adoption agency wouldn’t adopt out of state. But we impressed them with our bonafides. The breaking point came when they realized that a youtube video of Goblin and me, which has had several hundred thousand views, was one they’d recently watched. We drove from southern Arizona to Charlotte in two days, then drove back in two. Long, fast trip.

Do your Great Danes have anything in common with the Belgian Malinois in your new novel, SEAL Team 666?

They do in that both the Danes and the Malinois are excellent althletes.

Great Danes were raised for a singular purpose, to hunt down wild boar in a pack. They spent most of their lives laying on the castle floor, soaking in the heat from the fire, and eating scraps off the table. Then during one ferocious weekend they’d hunt and run and howl.

Malinois are very much like this except they do it every waking hour. Where a Great Dane is like a middle distance runner, a Malinois is a decathlete.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Chupacabra.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Cactus.

What is each dog's best quality?

Goblin is scent sensitive.

Ghost is forever curious.

Ghoulie is fearless.

If your dogs could change one thing about you, what would it be?

They would like me to be rich so they could live the life they want to be accustomed to living.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, which actors should do their voices?

What a question! I have no idea.

If your dog s could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

What can I do to make your life better?

Visit Weston Ochse's blog and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Ace Mask & Kane

Who is in the photo at right?

That would be me, Ace Mask, and my 4-year-old dog, Kane, a traditional Lassie-type rough collie.

My wife and I live in Brea, California with Kane and our Labrador Retriever, Hoover. The Lab isn’t with us this morning. He’s getting on in years and isn’t up to the trek for coffee.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Normally Kane fetches my paper from the driveway each morning, then joins me in my den for coffee at home.

Sundays are a little different. The paper is much larger and harder to retrieve, so as a reward, we walk down to our local Panera for coffee and a visit. We often see the same people and children enjoy spending time with Kane there.

What's brewing?

This morning it’s Dark Roast for me and a mocha with lots of whip cream for Donna, my wife.

Any treats for you or Kane on this occasion?

For me it’s a chocolate pastry. Kane has treats waiting him at home.

How did Kane get his name? Any aliases?

Kane is a good name for a Scotsman in keeping with his heritage. His registered name is Stoneypoint Raising Kane. Stoneypoint is the kennel he came from and his middle name just seemed a good match. Because of his breed he is often greeted with “Hi Lassie!” by strangers. Of course, Lassie is supposed to be a female, but the part was always played by a male. A canine cross-dresser.

How were you and Kane united?

Kane came from a breeder in Acton, California who had been recommended by friends in the Southern California Collie Club. Donna was looking for a dog to compete in AKC Agility trials to replace our old, aging collie, who was named Tag. We lost Tag to complications of old age this last July.

Who are Kane's best pet-pals?

Kane’s best pal is Hoover, our Labrador Retriever. We will be getting a new collie puppy in the spring, who will probably give both dogs a run for their kibble.

As a therapy dog, where is Kane's favorite place to visit?

He loves them all. We visit about 8 different facilities each month, including senior assisted living and Alzheimer's patients, brain injured youths, library reading programs, hospital locked-facilities (where patients are under observation because of harm they may have caused to themselves or others) and Kaiser Hospitals, including their huge facility in Los Angeles, where we interact with children in Oncology and ICU. Since he is a collie, he does seem to have a preference for children.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

All toys of all kinds. Including tug-of-war, fluffy squeaky toys and playing fetch with a ball.

As an agility dog, what is Kane's proudest achievement?

When he was five months old he woke up one morning with a strange illness that affected his motor skills and caused him to go into seizures. He spent several days hospitalized and although his affliction was never positively identified, one doctor thought it may have been a reaction to a rabies vaccination while the specialists thought it may have been a viral brain infection. We weren't sure if he would live or, if he did, if he would ever regain his motor skills. To our surprise, after many weeks, he bounced back. Our proudest moment may have been his first competition at the 2010 Collie Nationals, where he placed second and third in the Novice category. He now competes in the Excellent category. Considering his early health complications, that makes us very proud and happy.

If Kane could change one thing about Californians, what would it be?

Kane is a native Southern Californian, as am I, my, wife and our children and grandchildren. I don't think he would have any reason to want any of us to change.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Kane could speak, which actor should do his voice?

Me, of course. I’m a professional actor, and I can always use the work.

If Kane could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

Whatever did I do to deserve such a good friend as you?

Visit Kane's Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue